Australië zal moeten bezuinigen

Australia’s forecast mining tax revenue has been downgraded, underscoring the “grave” budget decisions facing Prime Minister Julia Gillard as the strength of the local dollar squeezes trade-exposed businesses.Gillard’s 30 percent tax on iron ore and coal profits will reap A$800 million ($824 million) in revenue for the year to June 30, down from an October estimate of A$2 billion, according to a Parliamentary Budget Office document released by the Greens party today. In the following four fiscal years, the tax will raise A$3.5 billion less than earlier forecast, it said.

With tax receipts declining, Gillard, the country’s first female leader, last week announced a plan to raise health-care taxation by 0.5 percentage point to fund a national disability insurance program. Her ruling Labor party, trailing in polls ahead of a Sept. 14 election, faces a A$12 billion slump in tax receipts that forced the government in December to abandon a commitment to return Australia’s budget to surplus.